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George the Farmer founder Simone Kain and Quality Wool Genevieve Dyson, of Quality Wool, with George and a display of wool discovery kits that are expected to reach about 4000 students.

Wool discovery kitsPremiumNominations are open to assign wool discovery kits

Teachers, parents and members of school communities are encouraged to get in the running to receive one of 50 wool discovery kits as part of a national competition.

Bob Garnant

Displaying their Supreme Champion fleece awarded at the 2025 Perth Royal Show are Jeremy King and his wife Melinda, with their children Gemma, 17, Erin, 13, and Tom, 18.

Perth Royal ShowPremiumPerth Royal Show: 100 fleeces go for top awards

About 100 fleeces have been entered in this year’s Perth Royal Show fleece competition, with entries slightly up on last year

Bob Garnant

The AWPF committee predicted a 4.4 per cent increase year-on-year in total shorn wool production in WA which committee chair Stephen Hill was driven by an increase in grower sentiment and good seasonal conditions.

ramming the trendPremiumWA leads the charge in rebuilding the wool industry

A leading forecasting body is anticipating WA to buck the national trend and have the highest wool production growth rate in the country for the 2026-27 financial year.

Melissa Pedelty

AWTA designed grab sampling imaging which captures high-quality images of grab samples.

new toolPremiumGrab sampling: latest tool for the wool industry

Australia’s leading voice for wool has applauded Australian Wool Testing Authority’s creation of a new system which could change the way wool brokers and merchants market and sell Australian wool

Melissa Pedelty

Brookton grower Sarah Walters and Dowerin grower Riley Hagboom.

shear willPremiumWool industry gathers in Brookton to discuss its future

A small Wheatbelt town’s local hall was filled to the brim when wool industry stakeholders came together to discuss the future of the industry.

Melissa Pedelty

Westcoast Wool’s Vaughn Baker, Australian Wool Innovation’s Tennille Norrish, Swan Wool’s Paul Foley, Jiangsu Jinmeng Textile Technology representative Hao Zhang (Jack), Brookton farmer Robbie Wansborough, Tongwei representative Fangmei Wang (Sunny) and PJ Morris’ Peter Morris.

Wool unspunPremiumWA wool industry buoyed by processors’ direct feedback

WA woolgrowers have been through a tumultuous few years following the Federal Government’s announcement of the live sheep export ban, but a gathering of hundreds has reignited faith in the industry’s future.

Melissa Pedelty

Woolhandling trainee Sara Amar completed a workshop to fill a position with Henderson Shearing.

Shearing staff shortagesPremiumShearing staff wanted as busy season springs to life

Dongara shearing contractor Mike Henderson is facing a shortage of woolhandling staff due to the State’s reduced sheep numbers.

Bob Garnant

Beyond the Shed support group included contractor mentor Darren Spencer, program director Valerie Pretzel, marketing partner Holly Ludeman, and training co-ordinator Tiffany Davey.

Boots on the GroundPremiumBoots on the Ground campaign launches in full gear

People in regional communities are being asked to pledge unwanted safety work boots, shirts and other wearable gear for the benefit of agricultural trainees who in turn will provide a local workforce.

Bob Garnant

Indian delegates at the Elders Ravenhill Facility. Pictured: WoolProducers Australian general manager Adam Dawes, Ashok Kumar Surana from Wool India, Elders national manager of wool operations Simon Hogan and Vishwas Surana from Wool India.

marketsPremiumIndian wool processing business sets sights on Australia

An Indian wool processing business has made a trip to Australia to explore expanded Merino opportunities

Melissa Pedelty

Nutrien State wool manager Warren Holt holds up wool.

“only temporary”PremiumWool market records major losses before three-week recess

WA wool industry experts believe the decline in the wool market is temporary, and are unbothered by the negative start to the new financial year.

Melissa Pedelty

AWI is funding a carbon-measuring project for sheep production systems.

carbon measuringPremiumAWI fund new carbon measuring project

A wool industry leader is funding a new carbon-measuring project in a bid to meet the growing demand for robust evidence behind low-carbon and environmental claims.

Melissa Pedelty

Consolidated Pastoral Company chief executive Troy Setter said he believed the wool industry was entering a new era of opportunity.

Extensive operationPremiumConsolidated Pastoral Company finalises purchase of Madura

One of Australia’s largest agrifood businesses is continuing to invest heavily in its sheep operations, confident the WA sheep industry is entering a “new era of opportunity”.

Melissa Pedelty and Kim Macdonald

Two key wool organisations are in talks to form one united body.

AWEX-AWTA mergerPremiumAWEX and AWTA in merger talks

Two key Australian industry-owned wool organisations have commenced formal discussions to explore a potential merger to deliver greater value to industry participants

Bob Garnant

Dongara wool presser Will Henderson is now confident to work with his skills in crop harvesting.

Beyond the Shed PremiumTrading wool harvesting for cropping: all for a day’s work

Shearing shed staff faced with off-season working conditions are now filling the gap through an initiative that provides training in the crop harvesting sector to satisfy steady employment.

Bob Garnant

Mimi Kitto of Southern Dirt, Victoria Surridge of Stirlings to Coast Farmers and GGA muster project manager Maddison McNeil at a recent workshop at Boyup Brook.

muster pointsPremiumWA muster points launched to deliver sheep and wool know-how

WA grower groups are uniting for a new project designed to connect sheep and wool producers to learning opportunities and practical resources.

Melissa Pedelty

Wool agent Carl Poingdestre.

flashbacksPremiumWool agent retires after 48 years in the sector

A wool industry stalwart has retired after 48 years in the industry — a decision he described as “bittersweet”.

Melissa Pedelty

West Australian Wool Collective to host two major Chinese wool processing companies, Jinmeng and Tongwei.

industry eventPremiumTwo of China’s leading wool processors set to visit WA

An independent wool collective will host two of China’s leading wool processors in interactive information sessions next month.

Melissa Pedelty

Australian Wool Exchange released its Q4 update on July 10. Pictured: Chief executive Charlie McElhone.

end-of-year reportPremiumAustralian Wool Exchange releases optimistic Q4 report

The Australian Wool Exchange has ended the financial year with the release of an optimistic outlook on the future of the wool industry.

Melissa Pedelty

Sheep Producers Australia chief executive Bonnie Skinner and president Bindi Murray.

failure to launchFuture Flock Report says nothing new

The Future Flock Strategy will now be a ‘living document’, which a leading sheep industry body says is far from what was originally promised.

Melissa Pedelty

Kingston Farms superfine merino wool, from sheep fed seaweed supplements to cut their methane emissions.

methane trackingCSIRO scientists use wool to verify sheep methane production

A team of Australian research scientists has discovered determining a sheep’s methane production is as easy and inexpensive as reading a wool sample.

Melissa Pedelty

WACSA 2025-26 circuit open shearing top point winners included Damien Boyle (first), Luke Harding (second), and Mark Buscumb (third), the trio will respresent WA at the national competition in October.

WACSA awardsPremiumWA excellence shines in shearing competitions

WA shearers and woolhandlers were recognised for their excellence during the WA Competition Shearing Association’s 2026-26 show circuit held across the State.

Bob Garnant

Bangladesh emerges as a potential Australian wool export market.

new opportunitiesPremiumBangladesh emerges as a new Australian wool export market

WoolProducers Australia is eyeing export opportunities to Bangladesh after a seminar in Dhaka indicated the country’s growing interest in natural fibres.

Melissa Pedelty

RFDS fundraising co-ordinator Kelly Haddrick and planned giving lead Gill Murray alongside AWN WA manager Greg Tilbrook.

RFDS fundraisingPremiumAWN and Dyson Jones’ support RFDS

Three bales of superfine Merino wool sold through the WA wool auction system have raised a combined total of $8639 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service WA.

Melissa Pedelty

Incoming WASIA president Sarah Buscumb.

WASIA’s new leaderPremiumWASIA’s new president a cut above

Newly appointed WA Shearing Industry Association president Sarah Buscumb looks forward to continuing the great work of her predecessor and stamping her passion for wool on the industry.

Bob Garnant